Italy – Elegy For B. H. W. (1915)

I CALL you, and I call you. Oh, come home, You lonely creature. Cursèd be the clown Who plugged you with that lead, and knocked you down.

Stand up again and laugh, you wandering friend. Say, as you would, ” It’s just a little hole :

It will soon mend.”

Walk now into the room. Come ! Come ! Come ! Come!

Come ! We will laugh together all the night (When I have poured you out a glass or two).

Sit down. Our mutual mirth will reach its height When we remember how they called you dead ; And I shall ask you how it felt, and you ” Oh nothing !Just a tumble. Rather hot The feeling in my side, and then my head A trifle dizzy but I’m back again.

I lay there rather long, and I’ve still got (When I think of it) just a little pain.”

II

I know the way you stumbled. Once you slid, And landed on your side. I noticed then A trick of falling ; some peculiar glide, A curious movement, not like other men.

Elegy for B.H.W. (1915)

But did your mouth drop open ? Did your breath Hurt you ? What sort of feeling quickly came When you discovered that it might be death ?

And what will happen if I shout your name ? Perhaps you may be there behind that door ; And, if I raise my voice a little more, You’ll swing it open. I don’t know how thick The black partition is between us two.